Busted For Far Rockaway Chop Shop

A Far Rockaway man has been charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and other charges for allegedly running a fully operational chop shop in his Chandler Street backyard.

District Attorney Richard Brown identified the defendant as Arthur Jordan, 41, of 14-16 Chandler Street. He was arraigned on April 17 in Queens Criminal Court in Kew Gardens on a criminal complaint charging him with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, second-degree auto stripping, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, illegal possession of a vehicle identification number, and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

He was ordered held on $20,000 bail and to return to court on May 2. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Brown said, “The defendant is accused of possessing parts of at least four stolen vehicles. His alleged actions left the true owners of the vehicles without the use of their lawful property. Furthermore, a setup such as this in a residential area has a negative effect on his neighbors’ quality of life. This case should serve as a warning to the defendant and others that auto crimes will not be tolerated in Queens County.”

Brown added that, according to the criminal complaint, on January 4, 2012, at approximately 9:50 p.m., at the defendant’s home, an undercover police officer purchased a transmission for a Honda Civic from the defendant for $350. Furthermore, it is alleged, on January 20, 2012, at approximately 2:40 p.m., an undercover police officer purchased an engine for a Honda Civic from the defendant for approximately $800.

The District Attorney further said that, according to the criminal complaint, on April 17, 2012, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home where they observed a 2010 twodoor Honda Civic without an engine, a transmission, front bumper or doors. The vehicle identification number of the items purchased by the undercover officers matched the vehicle identification numbers of the parts found at the location. All of the parts were then matched to a 2010 Honda Civic which was reported stolen on November 20, 2010.

Brown added that, according to the criminal complaint, officers executing a search warrant observed various parts of three other vehicles that had been reported stolen including a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, a 1989 BMW 325i and a 2006 Honda Ridgeline.

Finally, according to the criminal complaint, officers executing the search warrant observed various items at the location known to be used by chop shop operators including a vehicle lift, mechanics tools, and a pin stamp dye kit, which are commonly used to change the identification number of vehicle engines.